Research Themes

The Cambridge Neuroscience Community

Interests

We seek to understand how neural networks are assembled, function and evolve.

C. elegans is a powerful system to study neural circuits. The worm has exactly 302 neurons each of which can be identified. EM reconstructions have identified synaptic connections made by each neuron, providing a wiring diagram. By combining genetics, molecular and cell biology, and neural imaging we can dissect how these circuits work.

The worm inhabits humus where it feeds on microbes. To forage it integrates multiple cues, e.g., signals from bacteria and other animal, levels of ambient O2 and CO2. We are studying the genetic and neural architectures that allow these responses to be integrated and modified by experience.

Foraging strategies vary across natural C. elegans isolates, providing an opportunity also to investigate how neural circuits and behaviour evolve.

Conservation in neural signalling means our results are often generally applicable to other animals, including mammals.